Electrical switch



A ril 26, 1932. A SAUNAS 1,855,612

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed NOV. 17, 1928 Patented Apr. 26, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GUSTAVO A. SALINAS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THOMAS R. BROOKS, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIi'a ELECTRICAL SWITCH Application filed November 17, 1928. Serial No. 320,055.

This invention relates to the art of electrical switches, and particularly has reference to a switch of simplified construction which is adapted to control the translation of the current in a plurality of directions for the production of mechanical or electrical efiects.

My invention has many uses, and its controlling means is of such character as to enable'the current to be directed so as to simultaneously operate various mechanical and electrical devices. I have applied my switch, for the purposes of illustration, for operating directional signals for motor vehicles 1 and to control the current utilizable for the purpose. Directional signals may be either mechanical or electrical, and, by the utilization of my control means, such signals may be alternately-operated or maintained indefi- 2 nitely in an operative condition. The controller of my switch is automatically held normally in a position such that the current cannot be passed or utilized; but, by shifting the controller in either one of two directions,

' a short distance, the circuit is closed and the current is utilized in a desired manner. A

slight pressure on the controller in either direction will permit the current to pass and, when the pressure is relieved, the controller 80 will immediately return to the neutral or inoperative position.

In order that my invention may be clearly understood, I have provided drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my switch showing in dotted lines two extreme positions of adjstment of the controller;

Fi ure 2 is a view in side elevation of my switcTr;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in sectional elevation looking at the side opposite that of Figure 2, parts being also broken away to show details 45 of construction; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line centrally of the controller approximately at a right-angle to the section of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 5 indicates the body portion, 2 the cover and 3 the controller. These parts are preferably made of insulating material such as bakelite or other suitable material or substance.

The body portion, as clearly shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, has formed integrally therewith an attaching member a: which is tubular and internally threaded providing a means by which it may be secured in position for operation, or which may be utilized as part of an attaching means for securing it in position, according to its use. The body portion is also provided with two openings or depressions 5 separated by a wall 6, the functions of which will be presently described. The body member is also provided with a depression 7, the open end of which is shouldered for the reception of a contact member 8 suitably secured in position and having a contact and binding post 9 extending therethrough and provided on its inner end with a nut 10 adapted to securely hold a lead 11 centrally oi the contact strip, as shown in Figure 5. The contact strip 8 is curved in form and sufficiently extensive to hold at its opposite ends two binding posts 12 and 13 which aiiord contacts and are provided with nuts adapted to secure leads 12a and 13a thereto. The lead 11 goes to the battery or other source of supply, while the other two leads extend, respectively, to functional devices such as directional signal arms or electric lights or both. The depression or chamber 7 is suflicient in capacity to accommodate the several leads, which extend through an aperture 141 in the circumference of the body member. The inner edge of the body member is preferably narrowed by shouldering or flanging to provide a bearing 15 of small area affording an anti-frictional rest for the controller, and also a means of affording the cover a sealed connection with the body member, as indi cated at 16.

The controller 8 is provided with a pair of slots 17 separated by a wall or bridge-piece 18 corresponding with the wall 6 and adapted normally to lie thereover and register therewith, as shown in Figure 4. The controller is supported on the body member as described, and is held in place by the cover 2 which is internally shouldered circumferentially to receive the controller, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5. The controller is extended outward ly through the cover and is formed into a finger or manipulating piece 19, the aperture in the cover being sufliciently extensive to enable the controller to be shifted to the two extremes indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1, the ends of the aperture affording stops for said controller.

The cover 2 is made hollow and is provided centrally with a cylindrical, tubular boss 20 narrowed at its inner end to provide a bearing for the controller through a central aperture in which the said bearing passes, the controller being thus centralized in the switch. The outer end of the boss is countersunk for the reception of the head of a screw 21 which passes through the boss, through the controller, and into a centrally located, threaded bore in the body member, the screw being thus the sole securing means for the three principal members of the switch device.

To hold the controller in its central or neutral position and to cause the same to automatically return to such position after being shifted to either the right or the left, a short torsional and expansion spring is employed, the same being clearly shown in the sectional figures of the drawings. The said spring is indicated at 22, and is provided with two legs 23 and 24 which extend downwardly and pass through the slots 17 in the controller and enter the depressions 5 in the body member, on opposite sides of the corresponding walls 6 and 18, respectively, of the body memher and the controller. In assembling the parts, the controller is laid upon the body member, the spring is applied to the boss 20, and the cover is then set in place, or the spring may first be set in place upon the con troller with the leg 24 passing through a slot 17 in the controller and into one of the depressions 5 of the body member. The spring is then slightly wound so that the other leg 23 passes through the other of the slots 17 in the controller and into the other of the depressions 5 of the body member, said legs being thus located on opposite sides of the walls 6 and 18, respectively, of the body member and the controller. The wall 18 of the controller is thus held between the two legs of the spring and normally lies over the wall 6 of the body member. As the controller is turned to right or left, the bridge-piece or wall 18 of the controller, moving one of the legs of the spring, will cause it to be put under further tension, and, when the finger-piece 19 of the controller is released, the spring will immediately return the controller to neutral position with its bridge-piece 18 over the wall 6 of the body member. The spring, being confined between the cover and the controller, will also perform the function of pressing the controller against the body member, and thus maintain the controller with its contact strip 25 in position such as to close the circuit and translate the current, regardless of the direction in which the controller is shifted, to cause said contact strip 25 to engage the contacts 12 or 13. Normally, the spring, as previously described, maintains the controller in the neutral position shown in Figures 3 and 5 with its contact strip in engagement with the contact 9, this being the position of non-translation of the current from its source.

' In the switch the lead 11 from contact 9 goes to the battery or source of power. It will be noted in the drawings, Figures 3 and 5, that the contact strip 25 in the controller is always in engagement with said contact 9. In the normal position, that is, with the handle in the center, the contact strip 25 will not touch either of the contacts 12 or 13. The leads from these contacts go to the respective devices to which it is desired to supply current for a functional purpose. It will be obvious that, when the controller is turned to the right or left, the contact strip 25 will then connect either of the contacts 12 or 13, depending upon which way the controller is turned. When pressure is released, the controller will immediately return to its normal position under the impulse of spring 22, and the circuit will be broken.

From the fore oing it will be seen that my switch-consists of but three principal and very simple members, which are easily assembled, are strong and durable, and which are economical to build or produce in any type of insulating material. The switch member is simplified by providing in its upper surface a receptacle 26 for seating the spring 22, which structure reduces the depth of the chamber in the cover and also provides a receptacle for the boss 20 of said cover. On the opposite side of the switch member or controller, a similar recess is produced in which the contact member 25 is housed, thus reducing the controller to the least possible weight consistent with strength and durability. The controller has littleor no Wear imposed u on it due to the reduction in the area of the ange 15 of the'body member, and the pressure of the spring 22 on the controller is not excessive since it is only necessary to hold the controller lightly in its position so as to maintain the contacts for conduction of current. The thumb-piece, therefore, is easily manipulated. The switch maybe used to control one or more electric lights, or series of lights, may be utilizedto operate a directional signal for motor vehicles such as disclosed in application Serial Number 314,028, filed October 22, 1928, and may be employed for translating current in various directions and for various purposes other than those indicated. Obviously, contacts and leadsmay be employed in greaternumber than shown in the drawings, and the controller may have a wide range of movement in opposite directions from neutral position, accordingto the uses desired for my switch.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersP'atent is: 1

1. A controlling switch comprising a body member, a chambered covertherefor, and a contact carrying controller confined between the two; means for yieldingly holding the controller in neutral position comprising a torsional spring having legs adapted to engage the controller and the body member, and the body portion of said spring being located in the cover and seated in a recess in the controller.

2. A controlling switch comprising a body member, a cover and a controller between the two, the cover having means for centering the controller, means for pressing the latter yieldingly against the body member; a multiple contact strip carried by the body member; a conducting strip carried by the controller and countersunk therein and arranged in operative relation to the contact strip and normally in engagement with one of the contacts and out of engagement with all the others; and means for shifting the controller relatively to the body member for causing the conducting strip to engage others of the contacts.

3. A controlling switch comprising a body member carrying means integral therewith for securing it in position for use; a cover for said body member having a chamber therein, and the two parts having interacting means for sealing the contact between them; a controller loosely lying between the cover and body member; means carried by the cover for centralizing the controller; means between the cover and the controller for pressing the latter directly against the body member and for permitting the controller to be shifted relatively to the body member yieldingly in opposite directions; electrical conducting means between the controller and the body member enabling the translation of current in a plurality of directions; and means passing through the cover and the controller and into the body member for securing the several parts together.

GUSTAVO A. SALINAS. 

